Loading device



June 26, 1934. A'. E. CREASY ETAL 1,964,621

LOADING DEVICE Filed June 19. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I Q Q a Mr" June 26, 1934.

A. E. cREAsY ET AL 1,964,621

LOADING DEVICE Filed June '19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 26, 1934 LOADING DEVICE Arthur E. Greasy, Glenside, Pa., and Charles A. Blake, Birmingham, Ala., assignors to The Cleveland Crane & Engineering Company, Wickliffe, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 19, 1929, Serial No. 372,012

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a loading device, and more particularly to a device for loading bar or rod stock in quantity lots.

The main object of the invention is to provide a loading device which is capable of loading bar or rod stock in quantity lots into shelving bins or other places, into which it is impossible to run a carrier and hoist apparatus.

Another object is to provide a loading device 19 which eliminates handling the bar or rod stock separately.

Another object is to provide a loading device of this character which is simple and reliable in operation, capable of being economically manu- 1Q factured and formed of relatively few parts.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the detailed description of the device is set forth.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational view thereof, showing the device suspended from a hoisting mechanism, which, in turn, is carried upon an overhead carrier system, such as a monorail system.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device, certain parts thereof being broken away, so as to show some of the details of construction.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is likewise a vertical transverse-section taken approximately on line 5-5 of Figure 1,

the outer channel supporting member being omitted, however, from this view, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken approximately on line 66 of Figure 1.

In the handling of bar or rod stock, as for example, where it is desired to transport the stock from the place of its production to shelving bins for storage, it has been customary to provide a hoist apparatus for this purpose, suspended from an overhead carrier system, such as a monorail system.

The stock has been loaded into the hoisting apparatus manually and has then been transported to a point adjacent the shelving bins, where it has again been manually handled and transferred from the hoisting apparatus into the bins. This practice has necessitated a number of handling operations for the stock, wherein the same must be separately handled, and has thus consumed a large amount of time as well as extra labor.

maintained in their proper spaced relation by a The main difficulty has arisen from the fact that it has been impossible to unload the stock and place the same into the shelving bins in any but a manual operation, because it has been impossible to run the hoisting apparatus into such 5Q bins. The present invention contemplates the provision of a loading device capable of handling bar or rod stock in quantity loads and transporting the same to shelving bins, where the stock may be mechanically and quickly unloaded from 5 the device into the bins.

In Figure 1 of the drawings 10 indicates the supporting rail of an overhead monorail system, upon which rail the carrier wheels 11, supporting a hoisting mechanism may travel. The hoist- 7 ing mechanism is suspended from the wheels 11 by means of strap hangers 12, extending vertically downwardly therefrom and braced and bracing member 13 extending therebetween and 7 connected thereto. Of course any suitable hoisting apparatus might be used in connection with the device, and for that reason the apparatusdisclosed herein need only be briefly described.

This apparatus comprises a pair of hoisting 30 drums 14 connected by shaft 15 for simultaneous operation, and having hoisting chains 16 associated with each drum. An operating chain 17 extending about an operating pulley 18 operatively associated through suitable clutch mecha- 35 nism, not shown, with the drums is provided for operating the hoist mechanism and raising and lowering the loading device connected to the lower ends of the hoisting chains 16.

The loading device is formed of a main sup- 0 porting member 19 in the form of an elongated channel, which has secured to one of the side walls thereof, adjacent opposite ends of the supporting member, vertically extending supporting angles 20 arranged so that the arms 21 thereof 5 extend inwardly over the supporting member 19 and receive the bottom link of the chains 16 at a point lying approximately in the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal central line of the supporting member. In this way the sup- 1 porting member 19 is suspended from the hoisting apparatus, so that the loading device will have one side entirely free from any obstructions, whereby the operator may readily operate the device.

Arranged upon the under side of the supporting member 19, and adjacent the forward end of the loading device, are a pair of transversely aligned bearing blocks 22, within which is rotatably journaled a transversely extending shaft 23 having a hand wheel 24 fixed to the end thereof opposite the side of the device to which the supporting angles 20 are secured. The shaft 23 is also provided at approximately the middle thereof with a pinion 25 of such size that it will extend through an opening 26 arranged in the base or bottom of the supporting member 19, the purpose of which pinion will later be made apparent.

Extending downwardly from the underside of the supporting member 19, adjacent opposite side edges thereof and in alignment with each other at a point forwardly of the shaft 23, are a pair of brackets 27, which each pivotally support at its middle point a lever 28. These levers are operatively connected at their rear end with a transversely extending shaft 29, which carries adjacent the point of such connection, eccentric rollers 30 engaging the under side of the supporting member 19. The end of the shaft 29 upon the same side of the device as the hand wheel 24, has fixedly secured thereto an arm 31, which is provided adjacent its free end with an outwardly extending hand grip 32. The other end of the levers 28 is pivotally connected to vertically extending members 33 which are supported upon the side walls of the supporting member 19 by means of pins 34 extending outwardly therefrom and passing through elongated slots 35 arranged in the members 33. These members are of such length that they extend upwardly above the upper edge of the side walls of the supporting member 19, and are each provided with a pair of rearwardly extending vertically spaced projections or arms 36, which arms have aligned notches 37 in their upper edges (see Fig. l) It will thus be apparent that when the arm 31 is swung by means of the hand grip 32, that the shaft 29 will be rotated and will be moved either toward or away from the under side of the supporting member because of the eccentric rollers 30, whereby the levers 28 will be rocked about their pivotal connection with the straps 27. This rocking movement of the levers 28 will, in turn, cause the members 33 to slide upwardly or downwardly upon the side walls of the supporting member 19 and be guided and limited in such movement by the pin 34 and slot 35. The purpose of the arrangement just described will be brought out more fully hereinafter as the operation of the loading device is explained.

A second elongated channel member 38 is telescopically arranged within the channel supporting member 19 and is of substantially the same length as such member, but has the side walls thereof extending above the side walls of the member 19. The channel member 38 is provided with a plurality of transversely extending shafts 39 spaced longitudinally of the member and arranged above the bottom thereof, with their opposite ends extending through the side walls of the member. Each of these shafts is provided at its opposite ends with antifriction rollers 40 secured to the shaft and engaging the upper side of the base of the member 19. As clearly disclosed, there are a pair of these antifriction rollers at each end of each shaft, one of such rollers being arranged outside of the side wall of the member 38, while the other is arranged within the side wall of the member 38 and extends through an opening provided in the bottom thereof. This mounting of the member 38 upon the antifriction rollers enables the same to be easily moved backwardly and forwardly within the supporting member 19, which movement is effected by the engagement of a longitudinally extending rack 41 arranged substantially along the as indicated at 46, are relatively narrow.

middle of the bottom of the member 38 meshing with the pinion 25, so that rotation of the shaft 23 by the hand wheel 24 will cause the member 38 to move backwardly or forwardly in the member 19. The member 38 is provided, adjacent its rear end, with a pair of spaced guide lugs or ribs 42 extending transversely of the upper side of the bottom of the member, while the side walls thereof are each provided with a notch 43 in their upper edge, such notch being in alignment with the space between the lugs or ribs 42. These lugs or ribs and notches are for the purpose of receiving what may be termed a pusher plate 44, which may have its bottom edge positioned between the lugs or ribs 42 and extend transversely of the member 38. This pusher plate extends vertically upwardly above the side walls of the member 38 and is provided adjacent its opposite ends with regular recesses or notches extending upwardly from the bottom edge thereof but terminating below the top edge of the plate. These notches are relatively broad adjacent their bottom, provision being made therein at 45 for the inner of the rollers 40, while the upper ends of the notches,

The notches are each provided with a laterally extending notch 4'7 arranged midway between the bottom and top end of the notches. When the plate is positioned transversely of the member 38, with its bottom edge in bottom lugs or ribs 42, it will be seen that the side walls of the member 38 will extend upwardly within the notches, so that the top of the notches will rest in the notches 43 provided in the side walls of the member 38. Since the lower part of the notches in the plate 44 are relatively broad, the plate will thus extend outwardly beyond the side walls of the supporting member 19, which walls, as has been previously set forth, are of less height than the walls of the member 38. Thus when the member 38 is moved within the member 19 the plate 44 will move with the member 38, the vertically extending notches in such plate slidably accommodating the side walls of the supporting member 19. I

The loading device is moved along its carrier support to the position where the bar or rod stock is to be loaded into the same.

The hoisting apparatus is manipulated so as to position the device at the most convenient height, after which the bar or rod stock is positioned within the member 38 by pushing such stock longitudinally into the same and over the shafts 39, it being understood that the plate 44 is removed during this operation or is positioned at the opposite end of the device in a manner later to be explained.

After the stock has been positioned within the member 38 the pusher plate 44 is arranged transversely of the member within the ribs or lugs 42, as previously explained, with the notches in the plate engaging the notches 43 in the side walls of the member 38, the position of the plate being at the rear end of the bar or rod stock. The device is raised to a suitable height by the hoisting mechanism and is then moved on its carrier to a point as closely adjacent the shelving bins as it is possible to position the device.

Preferably the loading device is arranged slightly above the level of the shelving bin, so as to facilitate the placing of the bar or rod stock therein. This position having been obtained, the hand wheel 24 is rotated in the proper direction, so that the pinion 25 carried by the shaft 23 and meshing with the rack 41 carried by the member 38 will cause the member 38 to advance forwardly upon the member 19 and into the shelving bin. During this forward movement of the member 38 the pusher plate 44 will be in engagement with the rear ends of the bar or rod stock and will thus cause the same to move with the member 38 into the shelving bin. When the member 38 has been advanced to a position where the pusher plate 44 is in alignment with the notches 37 in the plates 33, the arm 31 is moved by its hand grip 32 in the proper direction to move such plates upwardly along the side walls of the member 19. The projections 36 carried by the plates 33 will engage with the pusher plate 44 so as to lift the same upwardly out of engagement with the ribs or lugs 42 and the notches 43 in the upper edges of the side walls of the member 38, the upper of the projections 3'7 engaging in the lateral notches 47, while the lower of the projections 37 will engage the under edge of the plate 44 adjacent the vertically extending notches therein. The hand wheel 24 is now turned in the opposite direction, causing the member 38 to move longitudinally rearwardly within the member 19, but since the pusher plate 44 has been disengaged from the notches 43 and the lugs or ribs 42 in the member 38, this plate will not travel with the member 38, but will be held stationary by the members 33 and will thus prevent the bar or rod stock from moving with the member 38, whereby such stock will be deposited upon or in the shelving bin.

The loading device may now be returned to receive another load of stock which is inserted into the member 38 in the manner previously described, after which the pusher plate 44 is manually removed from its position adjacent the forward end of the member and is placed within the ribs or lugs 42 and notches 43 at the rear end thereof, and the previously described operation is repeated.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A loading device of the character described adapted to be suspended from an overhead carrier system by a hoisting mechanism, comprising a supporting member in the form of an elongated channel, a second elongated channel member movably arranged within said first member, means for moving said second channel member in either direction longitudinally of said first channel member, a vertical plate adapted to be arranged transversely of said second channel member in engagement therewith adjacent one end thereof and movable therewith during movement of the member in one direction, and means carried by said first channel member adjacent the opposite end thereof operable to move said plate out of engagement with said second chan nel member, whereby the latter may move in the opposite direction independently of the plate.

2. A loading device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a material receiving member reciprocally movable upon said supporting member, a plurality of transversely extending roller members mounted upon the upper side of said material receiving member and upon which the material is directly supported, anti-friction rollers disposed between said supporting member and said material receiving member,-and means for moving said material receiving member.

3. A loading device of the character described,

comprising a supporting member, a material receiving member reciprocally movable upon said supporting member, a plurality of transversely extending roller members mounted upon the upper side of said material receiving member and upon which the material is directly supported, and means for moving said material receiving member.

4. A loading device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a material receiving member having united sides and bottom and reciprocally movable upon said supporting member, anti-friction rollers disposed between said material receiving member and said supporting member, a plurality of transversely extending roller members mounted upon the upper side of said material receiving member and upon which the material is supported, and means for moving said material supporting member.

5. A loading device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a material receiving member reciprocally movable upon said supporting member, a plurality of roller members extending transversely upon the upper side of said material receiving member and rotatably mounted in the opposite sides thereof, said rollers being adapted to directly support the material, anti-friction rollers carried by said roller members and engageable with said supporting member, and means for moving said material receiving member.

6. A leading device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a material receiving member reciprocally movable upon said supporting member, a plurality of roller members extending transversely upon the upper side of said material receiving member and rotatably mounted in the opposite sides thereof, said rollers being adapted to directly support the material, pairs of anti-friction rollers carried by said roller members and engageable with said supporting member, the anti-friction rollers of each pair being disposed upon opposite sides of the side portions of said material receiving member, and means for moving said material receiving member.

'7. A loading device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a material receiving member having spaced side walls and rigidly connected bottom reciprocally movable upon said supporting member, means for moving said material receiving member, and a member detachably supported by said supporting member and having a depending transversely extending portion positioned between the side walls of said material receiving member.

8. A loading device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a material receiving member having spaced side walls and rigidly connected bottom reciprocally movable upon said supporting member, means for moving said material receiving member, and a member detachably supported by said supporting member and having a depending transversely extending portion positioned between the side walls of said material receiving member, said side walls having notches for receiving said member when not supported by said supporting member.

9. A loading device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a material receiving member reciprocally movable upon said supporting member and including a plurality of LOO transversely disposed rollers extending in spaced relation longitudinally thereof, and means for moving said material receiving member.

10. A loading device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a material receiving member having spaced side walls and united bottom and reciprocally movable upon said supporting member, means for moving said material receiving member in opposite directions,

and means detachably mounted upon said supporting member and engageable with the material when said material receiving member is in one position to cause discharge: of the material as said material receiving member is moved to another position.

11. A loading device of the character described,

comprising a supporting member, a material re- ARTHUR E. CREASY. CHARLES A. BLAKE. 

